Victoria Arlen and partner Val Chmerkovskiy gave a “joyous” performance on Monday’s “Dancing With The Stars” premiere. They danced a cha cha to Disco Fries’s “Good Time Good Life.” Watch the video below.

Before her performance, there was footage of Arlen during which her miraculous story was partially told. The ESPN sportscaster may be the fiercest competitor this season. When Arlen was 11, she developed two rare conditions, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which causes the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, as well as transverse myelitis, which also affects the spinal cord. The net result was that by 12-years-old Arlen could no longer walk, talk or even eat.

She then fell into a vegetative state from which doctors did not think she would ever emerge. Worse, Arlen actually knew what was going on, but simply could not communicate with the outside world because she was paralyzed and unable to speak. Incredibly, nearly four years after being in that state, Arlen’s condition improved, but she needed to relearn how to speak and feed herself. However, she still remained paralyzed.

The sportscaster went on to become a gold medal-winning swimmer at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
At the age of 21 in 2015, still partially paralyzed, Arlen was hired by ESPN. Last year, the never-give-up competitor learned how to walk again. And even though she cannot feel her legs, she’s now on the shortlist of contenders to win “Dancing With The Stars.”

Following her first performance, Arlen got very emotional, while the audience gave her a standing ovation. Carrie Ann Inaba said she’s seen some incredible dances, but Arlen’s was “one of the most joyous performances ever.” “Your leg action was so crisp and clean,” added an impressed Inaba. For her first dance, Arlen received 19 out of 30. Check out the video below of Arlen and Chmerkovskiy’s cha cha to Disco Fries’ “Born Ready” on Monday’s “Dancing With The Stars” premiere.